Steroid injections for joint pains. Have they benefited you?

LadyEmeraude

LadyEmeraude

Tis The Season
Helpful for some but not for others...

Knees, hips, back, other body parts.
 

I have had shots in ankle joints, both shoulders and lower back. The only one that had a profound positive effect was the first one in my lower back, lasted maybe three months till pain returned. The others were mostly a waste of money, but the thing is when you are dealing with chronic pain you are willing to keep trying about anything hoping for relief.
 
Mixed results here.

First was in my shoulder. I have a rotator cuff problem. First appeared about 25 years ago, got a shot and the pain went away for over 20 years, from just one shot! However when it did return shots didn't help. I went to physical therapy and got on a regular exercise regime designed by my physical therapist. It slowly helped and after a year the pain was mostly gone, I still do the exercises and it seems to keep things under control. So for shoulder I certainly recommend exercise.

Both of my thumbs have arthritis pain. Tried shots in both, did no good. Doc said no exercise would help, so I had surgery on the right, my worst one. That was almost a year ago and can't say I am 100% happy, but it is better than before. Now contemplating what to do about the left.

Then my knees, I have had knee pain for a long time, not debilitating but it has slowly gotten worse. Tried exercise and at first it helped, but only for a while. Tried shots a few times, they work well for a few weeks but the pain returns, you can just get the shots every 3 months so now, on Monday I am getting them replaced.

Long story is based on my experience the shots are worth a try, might help, might not. Also depending on the joint the right exercising can help.

Best of luck to you!
 
Yes, I've had a couple of these injections and they worked with immediate relief that lasted..in my shoulders.
My mother used to get them in her hips and they would help her for about a year.
 
I will try another injection in three months into my same hip, and hope
for some better relief. Meanwhile I continue with my daily walking exercise
and staying in motion.

The only other injections have been into my right knee. Have had four the
past three years. Now those gave me 50% relief of issue and pains, and
lasted about 6 months each time. I was pleased about that for sure. Now
if only the same for my hip next time around, that will be great.
 
I had a steroid shot twice to my broken shoulder and it did nothing for me. I guess it depends on the person.

Another time I went to a non-doctor "orthopedic" for my knee and he told me that he doesn't believe in steroid shots and prefers alternative treatments. He told me what they were but I'd have to go back in my phone to find the text. What worked instantly for my knee 90% was simply buying the right shoes...Brooks Revel. I also started concentrating for a few days walking by putting my heal down first, and picking my feet up.
 
My understanding is that there are different types of these injections with different meds in them and as with any steroid, you are limited on how often you can get them and I'm sure the doctors giving them have to be very accurate in placing the needle, seems to me hip joints would be harder. Anyway my experience with this treatment was positive.
 
Jackie23 said:
My understanding is that there are different types of these injections with different meds in them and as with any steroid, you are limited on how often you can get them and I'm sure the doctors giving them have to be very accurate in placing the needle, seems to me hip joints would be harder. Anyway my experience with this treatment was positive.
Click to expand...
Yes, I understand the same thing, as do you Jackie, different type injections etc. and limitations.
With my recent hip injection, I had it done in the hospital to ensure accuracy of needle placement
and exact location. My knee injections though, I had done in my Orthopedic Clinic's office.
 
I had rotator cuff problems in both shoulders, it was so painful. I went into the day clinic at the hospital and while the doctor was administering the steroid injection he was looking at a screen showing my shoulder, he gave me 3-4 shots in different parts of one shoulder and there has not been a problem since, that was years ago now.
The second shoulder was done months later at the same hospital, this time it was another doctor, she gave me one shot in the shoulder, there was no screen for her to look at. It was all done within minutes. There is a big difference in the results of both shoulders after the injection, the first shoulder done has never given me any trouble at all, the other shoulder is a different story, it can get quite painful with certain movements. Obviously the administration of the injection has a lot to do with the end result.
 
Many years ago I've had those shots in my hip and shoulder (I think twice for the hip and once for the shoulder) and they were instant miracle cures for my pains (hip pain was probably from horse riding, and shoulder pain was probably impingement from doing a particular exercise while holding small weights), and lasted years.

But the past few years I've had the hip pain coming back and so far I've been able to resolve it by doing some hip exercises I saw on YouTube videos. This past month I've had shoulder pain (from carrying a heavy grocery bag from my shoulder - now missing those little plastic bags for a new reason!).
 
Before my hip replacement, I had two shots in my left hip joint for pain relief. The first one worked wonders and I was pain free for almost a year. The second did nothing.
Early in the summer I had an injection in my lumbar spine it helped quite a bit but now, unfortunately, the effectiveness seems to be wearing off.
 

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